Monday, April 27, 2015

Leah, the Unloved Wife

Dear Christa—

Names were very significant
in ancient times. They were often indicative of a person’s personality, but for
Leah, the names she gave her children and her accompanying comments reflect the
ebb and flow of one woman’s life experiences. Note the progression:

Zebulun: “God has presented
me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because
I have borne him six sons.”

Dinah: The only daughter
apparently didn’t merit a comment.

At some point, probably with
the giving of the maidservants, it became the battle of the sisters. Although
Leah was winning by a landslide in the birthing match, it seems to have changed
little between Jacob and her.

Jacob slept with all four
women, but he loved Rachel. And, even in their times of discord, it seems
obvious that his heart belonged to Rachel and Rachel alone—the woman who
welcomed him at the end of his journey to Paddan Aram. The one he was willing
to work 14 years for. The one who was willing to sacrifice her life to give him
one more son.

And, even beyond her death,
his love for Rachel surely stung like a slap every time Leah saw his expression
when one of Rachel’s sons entered his presence. We don’t know what Leah’s role
was in deceiving Jacob on his wedding night; but one thing seems certain, none
of it turned out the way she’d dreamed.

Vows and obligations in
marriage are important, even essential, but nothing takes the place of a husband's love.